Spring-frame for freight-cars



(No Model.)

J. .J'. SHIRLEY.

Spring I'ramefor Freight Oars.

; No. 235,462. Patented Dec. 144, 1880.

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PATENT ()FFICE.

JOSEPH J. SHIRLEY, O-F G RANBURY, TEXAS.

SPRING-FRA'M E FOR FREIGHT-CARS.

SPEGIEIGAT I O N forming part of Letters Patent No. 235,462, dated December 14, 1880.

Application filedMay 27,1880. (No model.)

To a ll whom concern Be it knowlr that I, JOSEPH-J. SHIRLEY} of Granbury, inthe 'countyof Hood and State 1 of Texas, have invented certain new and use-' ful lmprovementsin the Use of Springs in Transportation rand I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and-exact description of the invention, which willenable others skilled in the artto which it appertainsto make and use the same, reference being badto the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 represents a'longitudinal sectional view of a car equipped with my improved spring padding. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing a modification in thearrangement of the springs and'Figifi'isa view of one of the platforms resting upon or against springs and supporting the merchandise.

Corresponding partsin the several figures are denoted by like letters of reference.

This invention relates to vehicles for the transportation of merchandise 5 and it consists in providing such vehicles with an interior spring-padding, and in some cases with intermediate elastic floors or partitions, by which injury to the load, by jolting while inftransit, shall be prevented, and which shall further conduce to the preservation of fruits and other merchandise of a likev perishable nature, by causing a forced circulation of air around the packages of goods, as will be hereinafter more fully shown and described.

My invention, the nature of which renders it specially adapted for railroad freight-cars, is fully illustrated in the accompanyingdrawin gs, where A represents the body of an "ordinary box-car. B B are frames, suitably constructed of wooden-or metallic slats, or both,

and supported upon springs O O, which may I be coiled,'elliptical, or of any other suitable kind. If desired, the'framesmay beconnected in pairs by said springs, as shown in the drawin gs, thus. forming, practically, spring-mati ,L13I6SS6S, which mayibe fconvenieutly handled and placed in position. p

Thesespringpaddingframes are placed in the bottom, at the ends and sides, and even under the roof of the car. The positions may if be variedaccording to the kind and class of merchandise -to be transported, which said mrchandis'e' is then packed in the car, Where it-is supportednpon, between, and under the .said spring-frames.

Between the several rows, tiers, or piles of crates, boxes, or other packages of merchandise, separate spring-frames, D, may be inter posed, as shown in Fig. 2, in a horizontal or vertical position, as the case may require.

I provide the frames B with slats or clamps E, adjustable by thumb screws F, to clamp and hold the crates or other packages securely in position while in transit, and at the same time enable air to circulate freely between them.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed,

the operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood.

The spring-frames upon which the merchandise is supported prevent injury thereto by jolting while in transit, while at the same timethe easy swinging motion, and the fact that the several packages are spaced from each other, tends to promote afree circulation of air, which, espeoiallyit' the air beartiticially cooled, greatly assists in preserving perishable goods from destruction.

The spring-frames are simple, cheap, and easily applied to boxcars of the ordinary construction.

I am aware that freight-cars have been provided with movable bottoms supported on 'springs resting beneath upon the timbers of the main car-frame. This, however, I do not claim; but,

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- The combination, with a vehicle for the transportation of merchandise, of the spring padding-framesB, having adjustable slats or cleats E, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aifixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH J. SHIRLEY.

Witnesses:

B. M. Es'rns, W. A. DUKE. 

